Apple harvests are expected to be 30-35% lower than last year's, as they are forced to advance due to drought

The summer drought has accelerated the maturation of the apple, and many apples have already begun to fall in many parts of the Basque Country, so that the collection of cider apple has begun in some areas, in a campaign which, according to Euskal Sagardoa, will be 30-35% lower than in 2025.

In principle, 2026 will not be a major harvest year, after a high production in 2025. However, according to Euskal Sagardoa officials, the evolution of the apple is being very different from one place to another.

Thus, while in some regions production is low, such as the Gipuzkoa coast or Bizkaia, inothers, such as the Goierri de Gipuzkoa or certain areas of Álava, production is higher. Oro, moreover, the apple is smaller than in recent years due to a shortage of water in summer.

However, as is customary in smaller harvest years, most sidreries predict that the apple will have a high character and intensity, characteristics that can be verified in the coming weeks as harvesting and processing of fruit progresses.

Euskal Sagardoa will present the'Apple Harvest 2026 ' on September 16 at 10:30 a.m. at the experimental Otalarrea Sagasti in Villabona (Gipuzkoa). The event will provide all details of this year's apple harvest.